Film Review: The Lion King 2019, Childhood Nostalgia and Great Visuals

Disney is increasingly active in making live-action films from legendary animated films. This year is the turn of the story of Simba and Nala in The Lion King (1994). Who sits on the director's bench? Who else if not Jon Favreau (live-action The Jungle Book).

In the forests of Africa, there lived a herd of lions who controlled an area called Pride Land. The King of Pride Land is Mufasa (James Earl Jones), while the queen is Sarabi (Alfre Woodard).

They have a lion cub, the successor to the throne, Simba (JD McCrary, Donald Glover). They introduced Simba throughout the Pride Land flock as their future king. Now that's the task of Rafiki (John Kani), as a shaman as well as a close friend of Mufasa.

In the family is tucked Scar (Chiwetel Ejiofor). He is the younger brother of Mufasa who is cunning and never gets along with Zazu (John Oliver), the butler.

Little Simba was given advice from his father about his kingdom and how he would become a king. Simba has a best friend named Nala (Shahadi Wright Joseph, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter).

Until one-day Scar planned a bad thing with the hyenas to Mufasa and Simba. Wildebeest herds invade the canyon and below there is Simba. Mufasa tried to save Simba with all his might but did not survive.

Simba is sad, his father is gone. Scar appears and blames Simba for causing Mufasa to die. The innocent young Simba was confused about what to do, and Scar told him to leave and never come back.

Scar took Mufasa's throne and conquered Pride Land with the hyenas. While Simba went far trying to forget the past. Will he regain his throne again as king of the Pried Land?

Film Review: The Lion King, Childhood Nostalgia

The film opens with the introduction of Simba on a giant rock by Rafiki. Of course, this moment is best remembered by all those who used to watch the animated version of The Lion King. Jon Favreau managed to conjure an animated version into live-action so similar and detailed. I still remember the ants that walked on the branches at the opening of the Circle of Life, and in the live-action version, there was also.

The storyline is indeed similar to the animated version because in my opinion if changing the story has the potential to damage a beautiful Disney masterpiece. So there are not so many surprises that you will meet if you are fans of the animated version. The bonus is this film really invites reminisce of.

Childhood nostalgia? Maybe this is for your millennial generation who were born in the early 90s. Some people are fortunate to see The Lion King (1994) in the cinema, but my version of enjoying this film in childhood through VCD, yup really contains 2 CDs.

Although the exact same, Jon slipped a few minor differences as in the Be Prepared song that was made darker than the animation. Then when Simba and Nala were young when visiting an elephant's grave, they were invaded by dozens of hyenas while only three were animated. Another difference must be you who find out on the big.

Sing Iconic Soundtrack Songs

We are invited to sing The Lion King soundtrack songs, starting from Circle of Life that will make you shudder. Then I Just Can't-Wait to be the exciting King version of JD McCrary and Shahadi Wright Joseph.

Then there are Donald Glover's Hakuna Matata, Seth Rogen, and Billy Eichner. Admittedly, the appearance of Seth and Billy broke the laughter, they succeeded in becoming the iconic duo of The Lion King.

The most awaited of all people namely Can't You Feel the Love Tonight sung by Donald Glover and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. The difference in the songs in the animated and live-action versions is also very clear, here they improvise with vocals.

Great Visuals

One of the advantages of The Lion King (2019) is it's visual. We see an animated version now seeing lions and real animals that are so real. Not to mention the amazing scenery, like the giant stone of their house and the sky full of stars and dusk sky.

Then the appearance of an elephant's grave is made slightly different but still feels a gripping feel. The forests where Timon and Pumba live are almost identical to the animated version, but still beautiful. Not to mention when Simba and Nala sang Can't You Feel the Love Tonight, they were running really adorable.

Now what attracts attention is the facial expressions of the live-action version of animals are rather difficult to see. Is it because of the visuals of native animals and when they smile or are shocked or sad not so visible?

The Lion King Voice actor

The Lion King voice cast (2019) appeared compact, led by James Earl Jones who played Mufasa's voice. James is the voice actor in the animated version of Mufasa. Then there was John Oliver, the voice of Zazu with his English accent, the authoritative Alfre Woodard who played Sarabi's voice, and Chiwetel Ejiofor and Donald Glover appeared to fit the voices of Scar and Simba.

As for Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, if you hear the sound of Nala's impression is only slightly, we are like seeing Beyoncé alone. Is the Beyoncé aura too strong, so that the other characters we see are still Beyoncé figures? Here is a new song is sung by Beyoncé and appears in the film titled Spirit.

The Lion King is a live-action film that makes you reminisce about your childhood and sings iconic soundtrack songs. Although there aren't many surprises, we are spoiled with good visuals and solid voice actors.

Release : 
July 19, 2019

Director :
Jon Favreau

Cast :
Alfre Woodward
Chiwetel Ejiofor
John Kani
Beyonce Knowles-Carter
James Earl Jones
Donald Glover
Seth Roger

Duration :
118 minutes,

Studio :
Disney